Snowboarders! Some questions...
Discussion
I am going to have snowboarding lessons next friday, I am doing the one day thing where at the end you (so they say) can board to a 'recreational standard'.
Anyway, I was after some recommendations for knee pads, preferably ones that I could use for when I am mountain biking as well if thats possible?
Also any other advice for a complete novice would be superb thanks!
Anyway, I was after some recommendations for knee pads, preferably ones that I could use for when I am mountain biking as well if thats possible?
Also any other advice for a complete novice would be superb thanks!
Knee pads not needed IMHO, you don't tend to have big impacts there.
You're better off:
1. Learning how to fall over well (without breaking your fall with hands)
2. Getting some padded shorts to give your coccyx some protection
Wrist guards are bit of a marmite thing. Some people swear by them, some people point out that it just transmits the energy of your fall up your arm to the elbow.
You're better off:
1. Learning how to fall over well (without breaking your fall with hands)
2. Getting some padded shorts to give your coccyx some protection
Wrist guards are bit of a marmite thing. Some people swear by them, some people point out that it just transmits the energy of your fall up your arm to the elbow.
good luck!Wrist guards, wrist guards and wrist guards.
If your indoor in the UK, I wouldn't worry about the helmet, you won't be going fast enough.
After a day I'd expect control with both edges and linking turns....not a lot more.
Good luck, and enjoy it. The first time it clicks and flows properly is brilliant.
If your indoor in the UK, I wouldn't worry about the helmet, you won't be going fast enough.
After a day I'd expect control with both edges and linking turns....not a lot more.
Good luck, and enjoy it. The first time it clicks and flows properly is brilliant.
I learn 17 years ago on a fresh blanket of snow and I still remember the pain. But I remember when I finally "got" it even more!
Definately a helmet, it doesn't matter how slow you go an unexpected edge can lead to a significant bump on the head. Not keen on wrist guards but I would wear them if learning again esp if I was learning on an artifical slope and the real holiday was looming (you don't want to miss the holiday with a broken wrist).
However what hurts most is your bum but unlikley to lead to anything serious or holiday threatening.
So:
Helmet-defo
Wrist guards-only if you are going away soon after
Arse pads-only if you are a big girl's blouse
Definately a helmet, it doesn't matter how slow you go an unexpected edge can lead to a significant bump on the head. Not keen on wrist guards but I would wear them if learning again esp if I was learning on an artifical slope and the real holiday was looming (you don't want to miss the holiday with a broken wrist).
However what hurts most is your bum but unlikley to lead to anything serious or holiday threatening.
So:
Helmet-defo
Wrist guards-only if you are going away soon after
Arse pads-only if you are a big girl's blouse
Teddye4687 said:
I'd say the opposite.
Yes, if you catch a heel edge whilst on your toes, at speed, you could die.
Accepted you're more likely to catch an edge, but there are no rocks to clatter, and you won't hit sheet ice. The plyboard the thin layer of "snow" is on will give when you smack it. It won't kill you, and if you do pick up a sore head, it doesn't trash your holiday.Yes, if you catch a heel edge whilst on your toes, at speed, you could die.
With respect Mr. E, that's a load of rubbish. Falling at high speed from five or six feet up is plenty enough to die. Knocked myself out a few times before I saw the light.
Snowboarding tips: 1) Helmet. 2) Helmet 3) Helmet.
The point though is to have fun, so don't spend your time worrying about safety, try to enjoy the riding. The single biggest piece of advice you can possibly take is this:
KEEP YOUR WEIGHT ON THE FRONT FOOT AT ALL TIMES.
That reaaly is the single most important thing. Next, you must always ride on an edge. This means learning to finesse your weight through your toes or heels - you can only pick it up with practice, but if you ride the board flat at any speed, it will begin to rotate and catch an edge & over you will go.
Finally, bend the knees. Really bend them. They are your shock absorbers & you will progress much more quickly if you remember to bend them until your legs are burning. This is the reason you see so many boarders sitting at the side of the piste. It's also the reason you see so many stiff legged boarders bouncing down the mountain.
It's a lot to put together, but you will. It took me about a day, but then I did have an ex Marine b
king me into the skillz zone. Get on it & enjoy, it's magic.
Snowboarding tips: 1) Helmet. 2) Helmet 3) Helmet.
The point though is to have fun, so don't spend your time worrying about safety, try to enjoy the riding. The single biggest piece of advice you can possibly take is this:
KEEP YOUR WEIGHT ON THE FRONT FOOT AT ALL TIMES.
That reaaly is the single most important thing. Next, you must always ride on an edge. This means learning to finesse your weight through your toes or heels - you can only pick it up with practice, but if you ride the board flat at any speed, it will begin to rotate and catch an edge & over you will go.
Finally, bend the knees. Really bend them. They are your shock absorbers & you will progress much more quickly if you remember to bend them until your legs are burning. This is the reason you see so many boarders sitting at the side of the piste. It's also the reason you see so many stiff legged boarders bouncing down the mountain.
It's a lot to put together, but you will. It took me about a day, but then I did have an ex Marine b
king me into the skillz zone. Get on it & enjoy, it's magic.Its all been said above, I did one of those learn in a day at Milton Keynes, great day, and i could 'board' by the end of it, All be it 7 years ago, but still fresh in my mind, My recomendations....Wrist Guards & Crash pants, you'll have no choice about the helmet, there compulsory, i had to drive 2 hours after it and i wish i had wrist guards on, it cained the whole journey back trying to change gear etc. Sorry for the st grammar/spelling PH Spelling police 
t grammar/spelling PH Spelling police I was the same until I took a tonking, showing off doing jumps. I remember waking up & seeing blue sky & lots of rosey faced boarders.
Personal choice, but I wouldn't ride without one now. Funnily enough, I've never ridden with wrist guards or arse pads, never felt the need. Then again, I have done seasons & my mates are ex. British team riders from the downhill days, which rubs off a bit in terms of skills & confidence I suppose.
Personal choice, but I wouldn't ride without one now. Funnily enough, I've never ridden with wrist guards or arse pads, never felt the need. Then again, I have done seasons & my mates are ex. British team riders from the downhill days, which rubs off a bit in terms of skills & confidence I suppose.
The thing about a helmet is the first time you do need it, and don't have it, might be your last.
You can be super confident, and look super rad not wearing a helmet... but you wont remember how gnarly you were whilst your nearest and dearest are having to feed you and wipe your bum.
Not worth the risk.
You can be super confident, and look super rad not wearing a helmet... but you wont remember how gnarly you were whilst your nearest and dearest are having to feed you and wipe your bum.
Not worth the risk.
I don't buy the argument that a helmet is a danger in itsdelf because it's a hard object. Anything doing upwards of thirty miles an hour in a crowd of people is by definition a hazard.
The worst accidents I've had have always been getting cleared out by a sketchy punter careering around out of control at warp 9. Usually boarders I have to say in my experience, but I have been clattered to the deck a few times and hit my head doing it. Like the man said, if you ever need one, you better be sure to have one.
My other great bug bear is idiots stopping in the middle of pistes. Why oh why don't people move to the side when they need to stop, it's so fking obvious and yet you see it every single day - please mow me down, I've stopped here in the middle of a high speed run to make it easier for you to do.
The worst accidents I've had have always been getting cleared out by a sketchy punter careering around out of control at warp 9. Usually boarders I have to say in my experience, but I have been clattered to the deck a few times and hit my head doing it. Like the man said, if you ever need one, you better be sure to have one.
My other great bug bear is idiots stopping in the middle of pistes. Why oh why don't people move to the side when they need to stop, it's so f
king obvious and yet you see it every single day - please mow me down, I've stopped here in the middle of a high speed run to make it easier for you to do.My helmet has saved my noggin once before so i can justify it, Doing the boarder cross in Val Thorens....traveling at speed..caught the wrong edge...flipped/barrel rolled 3 times..hit my head hard once enough to make something crack in my helmet, If i had no helmet i would have lost a few brain cells that day.
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